Bicycling infrastructure creates the most jobs for a given level of spending: For each $1 million, the cycling projects in this study create a total of 11.4 jobs within the state where the project is located. Pedestrian-only projects create an average of about 10 jobs per $1 million and multi-use trails create nearly as many, at 9.6 jobs per $1 million. Infrastructure that combines road construction with pedestrian and bicycle facilities creates slightly fewer jobs for the same amount of spending, and road-only projects create the least, with a total of 7.8 jobs per $1 million.

Some have objected to Seattle’s efforts to accommodate people who use two wheels versus four. Between 2007-09 the City spent more than $17 million to install 93 miles of bike lanes and “sharrows” – shared lanes for cars and bikes – and 31 miles of signed bicycle routes and other improvements. Seattle now has 140 miles of bike lanes/climbing lanes and sharrows.